Comparing the Effects of Unknown-Known Ratios on Word Reading Learning Versus Learning Rates

An extension of G. L. Cates et al. (2003) investigation was conducted to determine if students’ cumulative learning rates would be superior for words read under a traditional drill and practice condition (as they were for spelling in the previous study) than under interspersal conditions of varying ratios of unknown to known words. Participants consisted of three intermediate grade students who were delayed readers. They received a less challenging ratio of unknown to known word (High-P sequencing) interspersal procedure, a more challenging ratio of unknown to known word interspersal training procedure, and a traditional drill and practice procedure in an alternating fashion across several tutoring sessions. Cumulative words read with mastery and cumulative rates of words read with mastery were measured across sessions for each participant under each instructional condition. Findings were consistent with the Cates et al., study revealing that children learn more words per minute of instructional time under the traditional drill and practice condition. These results further support examining instructional efficiency as well as effectiveness when making decisions about selecting and implementing interventions.     

Positive discipline,harsh physical discipline,physical discipline and psychological aggression in five Caribbean countries: Associations with preschoolers' early literacy skills

Physical punishment has received worldwide attention because of its negative impact on children's cognitive and social development and its implications for children's rights. Using UNICEF Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys 4 and 5 data, we assessed the associations between positive discipline, harsh physical punishment, physical punishment and psychological aggression and preschoolers' literacy skills in 5628 preschool‐aged children and their caregivers in the developing nations of Belize, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname. Caregivers across countries used high levels of explanations and psychological aggression. There were significant country differences in the use of the four disciplinary practices. In the Dominican Republic and Guyana, physical punishment had negative associations with children's literacy skills, and in the Dominican Republic, positive discipline had a positive association with children's literacy skills. Findings are discussed with respect to the negative consequences of harsh disciplinary practices on preschoolers' early literacy skills in the developing world.     

Validity of a test of children's suggestibility for predicting responses to two interview situations differing in their degree of suggestiveness

In the present study the relative contributions of internal and external sources of variation in children's suggestibility in interrogative situations were examined. One hundred and eleven children (48 4- to 5-year-olds and 63 7- to 8-year-olds) were administered a suggestibility test (BTSS) and the most suggestible (N=36) and the least suggestible (N=36) children were randomly assigned to either an interview condition containing several suggestive techniques or to one containing only suggestive questions. The effects of internal sources of variation in suggestibility were compared with the effects of the interview styles on the children's answers. The former did influence the children, but the external sources of variation in suggestibility had a stronger impact. Influences of cognitive, developmental factors could be found, but not when abuse-related questions were asked and high pressured interview methods were used. These findings indicate that individual assessment of suggestibility can be of some assistance when interviewing children, but diminishing suggestive influences in interrogations must be given priority.     

On the influence of re-reading on mind wandering

Re-reading has been shown to have a minimal benefit on text comprehension, in comparison to reading only once or other types of study techniques (e.g., testing; self-explanation). In two experiments we examined the effect of re-reading on mind wandering. Participants read two texts, during which they responded to intermittent mind wandering probes. One text was read once and the other twice. Consistent with previous findings, there was no effect of re-reading on comprehension even though participants reported feeling more competent when they re-read the text. Critically, participants mind wandered more while re-reading. Furthermore, the effect of re-reading on mind wandering was specific to intentional forms of mind wandering rather than unintentional. The implications of these results for understanding mind wandering and the limited effectiveness of re-reading as a mnemonic are discussed.     

癌症要告知实情吗？

面对癌症病人,应该不应该告知实情?这是临床医务人员常常面临的问题,目前尚无统一的标准。新的医疗事故处理条例规定、病人得知癌病的途径、临床治疗现状等方面分别论述告知癌症病人实情的理由。探讨了癌症告知策略:面对家属直言相告、面对病人通过交谈了解病人的性格特点、文化层次和情感类型,列举了不同类型的病人告知的方法。论述其告知病情后如何让病人走出误区,消除恐惧,把生存的压力转变成求生的动力,从而达到配合治疗,使病人敢于正视疾病,面对明天可能发生的任何事情。     

真菌性角膜炎的早期诊断技术

真菌性角膜炎是危害人类的严重眼科疾病,早期诊断是降低其致盲的关键步骤。概述真菌性角膜炎早期诊断技术的发展简史,分析各种早期诊断技术的优缺点。启示综合运用真菌性角膜炎的早期诊断技术,可提高本病的早期诊断率,改善人类生活质量。     

多层螺旋CT在不同肝硬化分级评估中的应用

利用多层螺旋CT对不同肝功能分级的52例乙型肝炎后肝硬化患者、50例酒精性肝硬化患者及25例正常对照组受试者进行肝脏体积在体测量,并进行kappa检验和方差分析,结果显示多层螺旋CT在体肝脏体积测量具有很好的一致性及可重复性（P〈0．01）;乙型肝炎后肝硬化与酒精性肝硬化患者肝脏体积的总体变化趋势相同,都随着病情的进展逐渐缩小,Child-Pugh分级B级之间的乙肝后肝硬化与酒精性肝硬化组患者的肝脏体积差异达到统计学上显著性水平。     

A psychologically based taxonomy of Magicians’ forcing Techniques: How magicians influence our choices,and how to use this to study psychological mechanisms

Magicians have developed a wide range of techniques to influence and control spectators’ choices of such things as card, word, or number. These techniques are what is called forcing. The present paper develops a psychologically-based taxonomy of forcing techniques with two goals in mind. Firstly, it should help uncover the different psychological mechanisms that underlie forcing techniques. Secondly, it should facilitate knowledge transfer between magicians and psychologists. The main division present two basic categories that can be used as a way of focussing separately on (1) decision-making processes and external influences on choices, and (2) links between sense of agency over action and outcome as well as the illusion of control over this outcome. This taxonomy allows us to clearly differentiate between forces in which there is or is not a free choice, and whether this choice has an impact on the following events.¹     

Financial and symbolic incentives promote ‘green’ charging choices

Electromobility can contribute to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if usage behavior is aligned with the increasing availability of renewable energy. To achieve this, smart navigation systems can be used to inform drivers of optimal charging times and locations. Yet, required flexibility may impart time penalties. We investigate the impact of financial and symbolic incentive schemes to counteract these additional costs. In a laboratory experiment with real-life time costs, we find that monetary and symbolic incentives are both effective in changing behavior towards ‘greener’ charging choices, while we find no significant statistical difference between them.